listen

American  

[lis-uhn] / ˈlɪs ən /

verb (used without object)

• listens,
  present (3rd person singular)
• listened,
  past participle,  past
• listening
  present participle

1. to give attention with the ear; attend closely for the purpose of hearing; give ear.

2. to pay attention; heed; obey (often followed byto ).

   Children don't always listen to their parents.

3. to wait attentively for a sound (usually followed byfor ).

   to listen for sounds of their return.

4. Informal. to convey a particular impression to the hearer; sound.

   The new recording doesn't listen as well as the old one.

---

verb (used with object)

• listens,
  present (3rd person singular)
• listened,
  past participle,  past
• listening
  present participle

1. Archaic. to give ear to; hear.

verb phrase

1. listen in

   1. to listen to a radio or television broadcast.

      Listen in tomorrow for the names of the lottery winners.

   2. to overhear a conversation or communication, especially by telephone; eavesdrop.

      Someone was listening in to his private calls.

listen British  

/ ˈlɪsən /

verb

1. to concentrate on hearing something

2. to take heed; pay attention

   I told you many times but you wouldn't listen

---

Synonym Usage

See hear.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• listener
  noun
• relisten
  verb
• unlistening
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• listening
  present
• listened
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• listen
  simple
• listens
  simple
• have listened
  perfect
• has listened
  perfect
• am listening
  progressive
• are listening
  progressive
• is listening
  progressive
• have been listening
  perfect progressive
• has been listening
  perfect progressive

Past

• listened
  simple
• had listened
  perfect
• was listening
  progressive
• were listening
  progressive
• had been listening
  perfect progressive

Future

• will listen
  simple
• will have listened
  perfect
• will be listening
  progressive
• will have been listening
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of listen

First recorded before 950; Middle English lis(t)nen, Old English hlysnan; cognate with Middle High German lüsenen, Swedish lyssna; akin to list ⁵

Explanation

If you really listen late at night after everyone's asleep, you'll hear the noises your house makes — the creaking of walls and floors, the hum of the refrigerator, the banging of the radiators. When you listen to something, you don't just hear it, but you really pay attention to the sounds. You can listen to music, listen for the sound of your guests arriving, or listen to the advice your grandfather gives you. The phrase listen in means to eavesdrop on, or deliberately overhear, a conversation. The t in the middle of the word listen is silent (you can't hear it even if you listen).

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

listen listens listened listening

You can listen to new episodes every Friday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

The social media giant dominates the market for smart glasses, which allow people to capture photos and videos, listen to music, take phone calls and ask questions to an artificial intelligence assistant.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

From Monday, 10 August, listen to an Arsenal special on the Women's Football Weekly podcast.

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

She received dozens of letters lamenting the “good old days” of “American” recipes like cola-soaked pork chops, but she didn’t listen.

From Salon ● Aug. 6, 2026

I sat absolutely still, trying to listen to the creakings that might mean footsteps.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

“When he talks, everyone stops and listens because he’s going to bestow some concept that will change the way they think,” said Rich Caccappolo, vice chairman of media for the Daily Mail General Trust.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 8, 2026

When he comes upon Irontown, led by the highborn Lady Eboshi, and listens to its people brag about burning down the boar god’s forest, one might expect him to be angry.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

"They told me they are really dissatisfied with all the existing political parties, because nobody listens to them," he said.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

Le Pen has always claimed to be a woman who listens, a woman of the people.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

Helmuth paces the living room and listens for footsteps.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Later, I was able to reconcile myself with the notion that Mexican music and the records that I listened to as a child are a big part of my identity.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2026

"We saw the disrespect and destruction of a community that should have been listened to," he added.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026

The jury listened to the 999 call Sidaway made at about 16:10 that day in which she pleaded for an ambulance.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

If the hacks or detractors listened to the references it was all about achievement in what the team did to win.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

“You’re neither one heroes to me,” Tansy said while we all listened.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

"They deserve transparency, clear communication, and meaningful support. Since day one, I have been in Boyle Heights listening to residents, meeting with families, and making sure their voices guide our response."

From BBC ● Aug. 9, 2026

And it’s worth listening for whatever management says about export permits — the one thing neither company controls.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 7, 2026

A spokesperson for Meta said people use its AI glasses because they’re “genuinely helpful” for tasks such as listening to music, live translation or hands-free calls.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

These connected to listening equipment downstairs in the servants' quarters, monitored day and night.

From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026

No order was given here and we drifted about aimlessly, listening we scarcely knew for what.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• accept
• admit
• attend
• get
• observe
• take notice
• tune in